Maddox shines for Dragons in loss

Rivalry Friday part deux

October 9, 2024 by Dan McWilliams Special to The Courier News

Undefeated Anderson County grabbed a quick 19-0 lead Friday and coasted to a 40-7 football win over the Clinton Dragons.

The win on homecoming night at Maverick Stadium lifted Anderson County’s record to 6-0.

Clinton fell to 2-5 after the non-region loss to its county rival.

The Mavericks, one of the top two teams in Class 4A depending on the ranking source, stretched their winning streak to 14 over Clinton since the last Dragon victory in 2009.

Running back Waylon LaRue carried the ball 19 times for 240 yards and three touchdowns for Anderson County.

Quarterback Landon Hensley went 11-for-13 passing for 195 yards and the other three TDs the Mavericks scored.

Evan Pyatt caught three passes for 113 yards and two TDs for the hosts, and Israel Small added three catches for 45 yards and a score.

Cody Miller recorded 17 tackles to lead the Mavericks, including three tackles for loss. Gabe St. John and Connor Isabell made eight tackles apiece. Eli Dorton added 2.5 tackles for loss and Steven Powers two TFLs.

Quarterback Jaylon Benjamin was busy for Clinton with 18 completions in 34 attempts for 165 yards and a touchdown. He threw two second-half interceptions.

Bryson Maddox caught the TD pass for the Dragons among his four receptions for 62 yards.

Running back Allijah Davidson led the Clinton ground game with 18 carries for 52 yards and added a team-high five catches for 41 yards.

Bo Wright made four catches for the Dragons.

Ryker Armes and Travian Bounds tied for the Clinton tackle lead with seven apiece.

Armes made two TFLs, and teammate Will’Quis Young added six tackles, while Wright and Noah Whitt had five each.

Whitt recovered a fumble that was forced by Lucas Butz, and Wright broke up two passes.

The Mavericks outgained Clinton 467 yards to 239.

Anderson County committed 13 penalties for 136 yards, giving the Dragons six first downs via flags. Clinton was called for eight penalties for 84 yards.

ACHS made five first downs on the opening drive of the game, going 62 yards for a score. Three of the plays went for 11 yards each, the last a TD run by LaRue. Jackson Payne booted the extra point for a 7-0 Maverick lead with 10:35 on the first-quarter clock.

Clinton moved the chains three times on its first drive, but turned it over on downs at the Anderson County 33-yard line.

LaRue wasted little time in scoring again for the home team, running around right end for a 67-yard touchdown. The extra point went wide right, but the Mavericks were up 13-0 with 7:03 left in the period.

Logan Kenner returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards for Clinton, but the Dragons went three-and-out on offense. Punter Blane Collins boomed a 53-yarder to back up the Mavericks to their own 13.

Small caught a 35-yard pass from Hensley as Davidson nearly sacked the Maverick signal-caller on the play. Two plays later, Pyatt reeled in a 49-yard touchdown pass. The PAT sailed right again, but Anderson County had a 19-0 advantage with 2:11 on the clock.

Clinton lost the ball on downs at the Maverick 41 on the first play of the second quarter after a measurement by the officials. Anderson County then punted for the only time in the game.

The Dragons put together their lone scoring drive of the night, marching 76 yards in nine plays. Maddox caught an 11-yard pass and the Mavericks committed a 15-yard face-mask penalty to push the ball across midfield.

Davidson and Jaxon Herrell caught shorter passes before Maddox tallied on a 30-yard play. The 6-foot-5 Dragon receiver caught the Benjamin pass over the middle at the 15 and made a nice move to his right for the score.

Emanuel Ortiz connected on the extra point to pull Clinton to within 12 points, 19-7, as 6:04 remained in the first half.

Anderson County’s Taylor Davis returned the kickoff 19 yards and the Dragons committed a personal foul to set up the hosts at the Clinton 33 to start the next series.

The Mavericks scored in only four plays, as LaRue ran 16 yards for one first down and scored on a 7-yard carry. Payne’s extra point gave Anderson County a 26-7 lead with 5:08 showing on the scoreboard.

A slipup on the kickoff return put Clinton at its own 1-yard line, but the Dragons went 90 yards in 15 plays, only to lose the ball on downs at the Maverick 9. Donnavin Pencek caught a 10-yard pass while Wright reeled in a 10-yard Benjamin toss and Davidson a 17-yarder on a screen.

Two Maverick penalties also moved the sticks before the drive stalled at the 9 with 34.6 seconds to go in the half.

AC forced a punt on the first Clinton drive of the third quarter. LaRue then ran for 24, 11, and 20 yards, while Riley Wolfenbarger caught an 11-yard pass.

Two plays and a Dragon unsportsmanlike-conduct foul afterward, Small caught an 8-yard Hensley pass for a TD. Payne’s kick made it 33-7 with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter.

Clinton punted on its next drive, and the Mavericks’ quick-strike offense hit for another score in one play. Pyatt found himself wide open at the 20-yard line and completed a 53-yard scoring pass. Payne made the extra point for a 40-7 lead.

With the lead being at least 30, that started the mercy-rule running clock late in the third.

Davidson ran for and caught a pass for first downs on the next Dragon drive, but Pyatt intercepted Benjamin. A hard hit by Butz forced a Maverick fumble that Whitt recovered in air and returned 5 yards.

However, Reese Russell picked off another Benjamin pass and brought it back 21 yards, and the Mavericks ran out the clock.

Clinton plays its final home game this Friday against Region 3-5A opponent Lenoir City.

Anderson County has an open date this week. before visiting Knoxville West on Oct. 18.